Cowboy Kind of Love

Baby

We got up a bit later walking off to get something to eat and another drink, Monica and Kayce coming with us so Tate could eat.

"Fry bread?" Rip asked knowing I liked it.

"You know me so well." I said winking.

"So how long have you two been dating?" I turned looking at Monica. Rip and Kayce taking a sip of beer, my brother looking uncomfortable.

"Um." I didn't really know how to answer that. It was never really something we ever put a name on. "A while."

"While my ass, y'all been dancing around each other for a fucking decade."

"Kayce." I said hitting him.

"What? Tell me I'm fucking wrong, it's been back and forth between y'all for as long as I can remember. May not have put a name on it but it's true. Only two guys I ever saw you show interest in was James and him."

"Whose James?" Monica asked.

"Stupid ass who used to work on the ranch." Rip growled out. I sighed looking at Monica.

"He was a hand who Rip got dad to fire when he caught them together."

"Ok enough of that it was a long time ago." As they walked off I stopped looking at Rip. "You ok?"

"Fine."

"Just so you know, I wasn't in love with him. Always been you." I said kissing his cheek before taking his hand as we walked back to our seats. Jimmy ended up getting hurt and hurt bad. They took him to the hospital and dad told me to handle the ranch. Not sure what the Governor wanted but I knew it was important if she came all the way to a rodeo to talk to my dad. He really liked her, I never saw him show interest in another woman besides my mom by the smile on his face I liked. I was working the barn when Rip walked up to me placing a kiss on my temple.

"Any word on Jimmy?"

"Yeah, your dad said he had a compression fracture in his neck, two in his back, has a bone fragment pressing his spine that they don't know what to do with, replaced his hip and a grade 3 concussion."

"Shit."

"He'll be ok, gonna be a while but he's ok."

"How's Jake doing breaking the horse?"

"Not bad."

"Really peaceful damn near no one here."

"It is."

"I like having you alone."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm gonna go by the house."

"Go, I can handle this."

"I know you can darling." As he left Jake came in.

"What?"

"Governor is here, taking the 4x4 she needs your dad."

"Ok." I went to the store a bit later telling Rip to finish up that I needed to grab some stuff, I wanted to make dinner for Rip. I decided on some steaks, stuff for baked potatoes, some broccoli, and salad. I got the bag and walked back to his house hopping the fence. He was sitting on the porch and as I got a little closer could see the cooler next to him "Hello dear, how was your day?"

"Ya know when your dad gets tired of sleeping outside he's gonna wonder where his daughter's sleeping."

"Good thing sleeping outside is his favorite thing." He held his hand out taking the grocery bag from me.

"Be careful or I'm gonna get used to this shit, darlin."

"Yeah, well, that's the plan." He opened the cooler handing me a beer.

"Oh, you got plans do you?"

"I have plans for everything." I said opening the beer.

"Just sit on your horse concocting little plans." I laughed making sure beer didn't come out.

"And a sense of humor?" I said walking up the stairs. He move back opening his arms as I sat in his lap, his hand going to my back as he wrapped his arms around me. "God, where did that come from?"

"What are you talking about? I'v been funny all my life." We both laughed and I took his hat off his head holding it in my hand as my arms were around his neck.

"You are many things, but baby, funny is not one of them. Sorry." I said taking a sip of my beer.

"Mm. Call me that again." I looked at him

"Call you what?" he lightly raised his brows.

"Baby. Say that again."

"You like that, do you?"

"Yeah, I do." I bent kissing him gently. The hand he had on my waist moving up rubbing my back as I leaned back.

"Okay, baby."

"What should I call you?" I kissed him again, my forehead against his as I pulled back.

"Wife." I uttered opening my eyes as realization of what I had said come over me like ice water. Rip was looking in my eyes but I couldn't read the look. I leaned back biting my lip as I slid his hat back on his head and stood up. "I, I'm sorry." I grabbed the bag of groceries walking in the door. "I'm cooking you dinner for once."

Rip stayed on the porch as I leaned against the sink trying to wrap my head around what the hell just happened and how bad I fucked up. One we had never even had a label and I just said I wanted him to call me wife, I didn't mean to let it slip. When I thought of forever on a husband the only person I saw was him; but did he feel the same or did I rush it too far and push him away. I made dinner quietly as he sat on the porch never coming in until I called out that dinner was ready. We ate mostly in silence which wasn't new he and I could sit for hours and never utter a word but now that silence was deafening. After dinner I cleaned up, noticing Rip was keeping an eye on me. I gave him a kiss and headed to bed. I tossed on a nightgown from the bag I had brought, been staying so much I packed a small bag and had it here, mostly it was shit to work in but I had a couple of pairs of shorts or sundresses. I woke up the next morning deciding to let Rip handle the ranch today, I don't think I could concentrate right. I had made some coffee and was sitting outside. I had gotten up when he did and came out here sitting and watching the sunrise. Rip walked out slipping his jacket on as I looked at him, our eyes locking.

"No breakfast?"

"Nah, I got a heifer auction in Butte I gotta go to." He said leaning against the post on the porch. I looked down at my hands.

"I fucked it up didn't I?" I asked

"Listen." He said gently. "The only reason why I don't bring up tomorrow with you Lexis is because every fucking time I do I think your gonna run away." He sighed walking up on the side of me and sitting down looking at me. "I look at every day with you as a gift. My tomorrow's well, they're all yours." He reached out grabbing my hand as he looked at me. "There is no word I'd rather call you. I mean, if that's what you want."

"There's only so much I can give you Rip."

"No, you can give me everything." He brushed my hair away from my face as I sniffled. "Hey, you're all I need. I'll call you whatever you want." I took a deep breath getting out of the seat and on my knees between his legs as I kissed him. My hands resting on his knees while is where on my shoulder and arm. I then slid my arms around him as we hugged, before I rested my head on him, his arms holding me securely.

"Everything you call me is fine."

"What if I wanna add wife?" I smiled nuzzling my face into his neck.

"I'd be  fine with that too. You gotta go to work." I muttered as he laughed pulling back.

"Okay." He said standing. He looked at me as I stood. "I gotta say I like leaving you sitting here on the porch like this, be a lot better though if you were here when I got home." I walked to the stairs with him stopping at the top as he walked down.

"Well I'll see what I can do about that." He turned smiling at me as he nodded before walking off.